Arun Jaitley to China: India of 2017 very different

A day after China asked the Indian Army to learn “historical lessons”, referring to the defeat in the 1962 war, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley asserted that the India of 2017 is different.

“If they are trying to remind us… the situation in 1962 was different and India of 2017 is different,” Jaitley said, responding to China’s warning. He was speaking at an event organised by a news channel here on Friday.

A military standoff has continued between Indian and Chinese troops for over a fortnight following China’s efforts to build a road in the strategically important Donglong area in Bhutan.

The face-off was sparked in Doka La falling in the strategic Chumbi Valley at a tri-junction bordering India, China and Bhutan.

Jaitley refuted allegations by Beijing that the Indian Army entered Chinese territory to stop the road construction in an area that is disputed between China and Bhutan.

“The Bhutan government had issued a statement yesterday in which it made it clear that the land in question belonged to Bhutan. It is located near India’s land. There is an arrangement between India and Bhutan for providing security,” he said.

Responding to allegations made by China, New Delhi said on Friday that the governments of Bhutan and India have been in touch on the issue.

“Indian personnel, who were present at general area Doka La, approached the Chinese construction party and urged them to desist from changing the status quo. These efforts continue,” a press release issued by the government said.

It added that India was “deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions, and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.”

“It is essential that all parties concerned display utmost restraint and abide by their respective bilateral understandings not to change the status quo unilaterally. It is also important that the consensus reached between India and China through the Special Representatives process is scrupulously respected by both sides,” the statement said.

Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat visited Sikkim on Thursday, meeting field commanders and reviewing the situation.